Box Scores - W4-1 / W 5-3

WINGATE, N.C. - East Stroudsburg University took early leads in both games and swept a doubleheader at No. 19-ranked Wingate University on Thursday afternoon, 4-1 and 5-3.

The Warriors (2-2) were playing their second doubleheader of the season against the Bulldogs, who entered with a 14-3-1 record and top 20 national ranking. ESU received stellar pitching performances from senior Jen Bensinger, who won the opener, and junior Jackie Battaglino, who saved the first game and went the distance in the second, a day after giving up 15 runs at Lenoir-Rhyne.

In the first game, Bensinger got out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning and the Warriors scored two runs in the second after Wingate made two errors on the same play to take an early 2-0 lead.

Wingate cut the margin in half with an unearned run in the fourth, but ESU got the run back in the top of the fifth when a base hit by junior Caitlin Rosenbaum set up an RBI opportunity for sophomore SS Brittany Racek, who reached on a fielders choice with pinch runner Alicea Ashe scoring on the play.

The Bulldogs had a runner on second with one out in the bottom of the fifth but Bensinger shut the door, and ESU got another run in the sixth on a single by Rosenbaum that plated junior OF Kara Darcey to go ahead 4-1.

Battaglino entered the game in the sixth and didn't allow a hit while recording the final six outs. Wingate got the tying run to the plate in the seventh before Battaglino got a ground out to Racek at short to end the game.

Racek went 3-for-3 and sophomore OF Jamie Mingis was 2-for-4 at the top of the order for ESU in the second game as the Warriors scored a pair of runs in both of the first two innings.

Racek opened the game with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a single by Mingis, who promptly stole second to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Freshman Rachel Gieringer laid down a sacrifice bunt, reached safely and both runners scored to give ESU a 2-0 lead.

Both players picked up RBI's in the second inning as ESU played more small ball. Fitzpatrick walked and senior Kerri Jakobsen was hit by a pitch before being lifted for a pair of pinch runners, Ashe and sophomore Julia Collins. Rosenbaum advanced the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, and Racek reached on a bunt single that brought home Ashe. Collins scored on a base hit by Mingis, and the Warriors held a 4-0 advantage through 1 1/2 innings.

Racek added an RBI double in the top of the fourth inning, and Battaglino retired all nine batters she faced the first time through the order before the Bulldogs scored twice in the bottom of the fourth.

Battaglino sat down the side in order in the fifth and gave up an unearned run in the sixth. Wingate threatened in the seventh, getting a one-out double to put pressure on the Warriors, but Battaglino got a pair of ground balls for the final two outs to seal the victory.

The Warriors will play a doubleheader at Mars Hill on Friday and take on PSAC foe Bloomsburg on Saturday to close their schedule over spring break.